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  • From: "Lynda" <lurine AT softcom.net>
  • To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [Homestead] One More Reason For Homegrown Organic
  • Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:57:12 -0800

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/releases/ge-threat-to
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/releases/ge-threat-to
-
fertility-11112008

VIENNA
(Austria) - Study shows that genetically engineered maize affects
reproductive health in mice

A study published today by the Austrian government identified serious
health threats of genetically engineered (GE) crops. In one of the
very few long-term feeding studies ever conducted with GE crops, the
fertility of mice fed with GE maize was found to be severely impaired,
with fewer offspring being produced than by mice fed on natural crops.
Considering the severity of the potential threat to human health and
reproduction, Greenpeace is demanding a recall of all GE food and
crops from the market, worldwide.

The study, sponsored by the Austrian Ministries for Agriculture and Health, was presented today at a scientific seminar in Vienna, Austria. Prof. Dr. Jürgen Zentek, Professor for Veterinary Medicine at the University of Vienna and lead author of the study, summarised the findings: Mice fed with GE maize had less offspring in the third and fourth generations, and these difference were statistically significant. Mice fed with non-GE maize reproduced more efficiently. This effect can be attributed to the differences in the food source.

"GE food appears to be acting as a birth control agent, potentially
leading to infertility - if this is not reason enough to close down
the whole biotech industry once and for all, I am not sure what kind
of disaster we are waiting for," said Dr. Jan van Aken, GE expert at
Greenpeace International. "Playing genetic roulette with our food crops is like playing Russian roulette with consumers and public health".

The Austrian scientists performed several long-term feeding trials
with laboratory mice over a course of 20 weeks. One of the studies was
a so-called reproductive assessment by continuous breeding (RACB)
trial, in which the same parent generation gave birth to several
litters of baby mice.

The parents were fed either with a diet containing 33% of a GE maize
variety (NK 603 x MON 810), or a closely related non-GE variety. A
decrease in litter size and weight was found to be statistically
significant in the third and fourth litters in the GE-fed mice
compared to the control group.

Owned by Monsanto, the GE maize variety tested in this study is
tolerant to a herbicide and resistant to certain insect pests. It has
been approved for planting and food use in a variety of countries,
including the US, Argentina, Japan, Philippines and South Africa. In
Mexico and the European Union (1), it is approved for food and feed
use.

"This study is yet another example that the food and feed safety of GE
crops and food cannot be guaranteed. The reproductive toxicity of this
GE maize was a totally unexpected result, but regulators around the
world had considered this GE maize variety as safe as non-GE varieties
- a potentially devastating error,"
said Dr. van Aken.

Contacts:

Dr. Jan van Aken, Greenpeace International agriculture expert, +49
151 1805 3415
Dr. Janet Cotter, Greenpeace International Science Unit, +44 7812
174783

Notes to Editors:

(1) In 2005, the European Food Safety Agency EFSA gave a green light
for this variety. Without conducting any independent studies and just
relying on Monsanto's data, EFSA wrote it "considers it unlikely that
NK603 x MON810 maize will have any adverse effect on human and animal
health". This exemplifies how flawed and ill-designed the European
risk assessment for GE crops is.
Patrizia Cuonzo




  • [Homestead] One More Reason For Homegrown Organic, Lynda, 11/12/2008

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